Greater LA

Year after year, a Fullerton theater sells out a camped-up comedy about Santa Claus on Mars. The stage show is based on a 1964 B-movie.

At least 15 productions of “A Christmas Carol” exist in SoCal, and each theater adds a twist to the play.

Vendors at DTLA’s Piñata District say people from as far as New York go there to buy supplies like corn husks and nativity scenes for Christmas.

Since 1925, members of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club have been meeting bright and early to sing songs, solve puzzles, and eat ham and eggs.

In 2024, a new California law will establish a retirement fund for mixed martial arts fighters. A similar law has been in place for boxers since the early 1980s.

U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Lesly Gonzalez works 10-hour days leading up to Christmas. Does the heavy workload dampen her holiday spirit?

An affordable housing developer got $114 million from Gov. Newsom’s Homekey program. Now, with little to show for it, legal and financial problems are mounting. 

Federal labor regulators are looking to forcibly reopen six Los Angeles area Starbucks locations, and labor researcher Saba Waheed says it just might happen.

For many in the Latino community, the act of making and eating tamales offers a sense of togetherness during the holiday season.

Since October, the robotaxi company Waymo has been offering driverless rides in Los Angeles. Greater LA’s Steve Chotakis tried one out for himself. KCRW also looks at safety concerns of these vehicles, and Waymo’s head of city policy and government affairs shares the company’s future plans.

LA aficionados Patt Morrison and Fritz Coleman discuss where and how Angelenos can experience winter holiday charm despite the temperate weather. 

Musician Arturo Sandoval discusses what makes a Christmas song “swing,” his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie, and his December 23 show at Disney Concert Hall.

The Fairfax District’s Diamond Bakery, iconic to generations of Jewish Angelenos, closed this month after 77 years. Its recipes will live on.

David Edward Byrd designed some of the most iconic psychedelic concert posters during the 1960s and 70s. “Poster Child” is a new book that looks at his personal journey and many posters.

At Lisson Gallery, Hugh Hayden’s new exhibition features strange, surreal sculptures and photographs placed in bathroom stalls. It runs through January 13, 2024.

As people look for eco-friendly solutions to non-recyclable wrapping paper, furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping packages in cloth, is becoming more widely adopted.

Gifts for loved ones don’t have to be expensive or brand new. Consider buying from your local thrift store, upcycle an imperfect and pre-loved item, or make something by hand.

And to further cut down on holiday waste, KCRW offers tips for sustainable decorations and the holiday dinner menu.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court, a new mental health program, opened in LA on December 1 to uncertainty, conflicting concerns, and high hopes.

This fall, a new major is available at UCLA’s campus: Disability Studies. The aim is to decrease stigma, highlight ableism, and create a more accessible world.

After six years in Anaheim, Japanese baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani will play for the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a 10-year, $700 million contract.

A composting program at The Wesley School helps the planet, with an added benefit: teaching kids to be hopeful about participating in climate action.

The nonprofit Street Symphony will turn Skid Row into a music festival and community resource fair on December 10 for its Re/Sound Festival.

A new exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum showcases the work of the trailblazing photographer “Kali,” whose psychedelic prints of SoCal life weren’t appreciated until long after her death.

The one-day Cal State LA faculty strike is the third of four planned statewide this week.

Sunset’s bright purple Cafe Tropical, which shut down suddenly last week, was known for its excellent Cuban food and its role as a safe haven for those in recovery.

From a zookeeper he met on Twitter to musician Phoebe Bridgers,
Brandon Stosuy’s latest book features 115 essays, poems, and stories on sadness and crying.